Diagnostic Imaging Services

The Imaging Department at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital strives to be at the forefront of imaging technology. We have 5 faculty radiologists who are board certified Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and we have five registered veterinary technicians/medical technologists. Our department has numerous imaging modalities for the broad range of species seen at the Teaching Hospital. A technician is available 24 hours a day to provide emergency service and imaging support.

Imaging services include digital radiography for both small and large animals utilizing state of the art equipment to provide the detail needed to find the smallest of lesions. Fluoroscopy is used to obtain real-time images to aid in the diagnosis of tracheal and esophageal abnormalities. Large and small animal computed tomography (CT) scans provide rapid, cross-sectional images that can be used to detect problems in tissue structures. Large and small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently provided by a 1.5 Tesla scanner. It is a noninvasive procedure that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the body.

MRI is particularly useful in diagnosing neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. Large and small animal nuclear medicine is available and is a subspecialty of radiology in which radioisotopes (compounds containing radioactive forms of atoms) are put into the body to evaluate organ function or localize bone disease such as stress fractures or tumor metastasis. Finally, ultrasound machines are used to produce images of organs such as the kidneys, urinary bladder, adrenal glands, liver and gallbladder using high-frequency sound waves. Unlike a traditional x-ray, there is no ionizing radiation exposure with this imaging modality.